The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-01-27
ST. PAUL ICE CARNIVAL

ST: PAUL ICE CARNIVAL
E,.. Nor. suc,e...fll rh., That Of Last Year
Thousands In Professions and - Speetators-
Charging the Ice Palace, etc.
The St. Paul Carnival OF this vear
was q wonderful success. Tho leo Pal.
ace is literally ''Thing OF beauty" and
attracts many thousands OF visitors, be-
sides the multitude OF clubs drawn around
it, when the assaults are made.
The first great public demonst, alton
was OH the arrival OF the Ice King (Dr.
country sightseers had gathered t6 wit.
ness the entrance. d. the leo King.
The Weather was most propitous;
the. day.: though cloudy; being mild,
with no wind stirring. The line 81 mafch,
from Rice Park through ths principal
sstreets to the Ice Palace; was .throneed
could with difficulty pass through. An
estimate of the crowd along, tho streets
is placed at .4O.OO0-a, figure that
10 considered very conservative. The
streets and pavemehts were crowdel
to an uncomfortable degree, and at every
window small audience was gathered.
Trees, awnings and lamp posts were MO.
Aopolized by men and boys everywhere.
while the number OF sleighs and other
vehicles on runners that were used as
coigncs de vantage completely blocked the
Intersections OF the cross streets along tho
line OF march. The decorations were al
most perfect.
Proceeding to the city hall, amid cheers
from thousand throats, the regal train
halted before the entrance of tho building.
and King Borealis demanded the KEYS OF
the palace, saying
J. as king OF this empire, demand the
keys which guard the ramparts OF yonder
palace.
City Attorney Murray. acting mayor in
the absence OF Mayor Rice; then replied
Chief OF Police Clark then handed two
great golden keys to King Borealis
which he fastened in his gifdle and ordered
the procession to move on. Club after
club in guady uniforms, with bouncing
blankets and drum corps and banners and
snowshoes and toboggaas and skis and
every other implement of winter enjoy.
ment, followed each other in rapid success
sion. Four negroes, clad in white gowns
bore on their shoulders the Columbia
bouncing blanket stretched OH frame.
I'VE strive to elevate our fellow men, ''and
"bound to rise' were the inscriptions in
large letters on this blanket.
The Grip club, 100 strong, preceded by
the Elgin band Of forty-five pieces, created
considerable merriment. Clad In linen
busters, provided with 'grips" strung over
their shoulders, they marched in two com.
panies. giving vent to Zone, two three;
grip grip, grip grip!" Each cheer was fol:
lowed by the ringing OF chestnut bells
borne by members Of the company; and
the waving OF palm leaf fans:
No IL. o1,,1>o L..
fore the officials and guests, who were ar.
ranged in their carriages ut the main en-
trance OF the palace. The complete cir
cult OF the palace was made and then King
Borealis, with his attendant train, entered
the icy portals. and were presented with
the keys. The guests then advanced and
were admitted to the presence Of his males.
ty, who received them with congratula-
tions on the transcendent beauty OF his
hew-found home. When this was conclud-
ed the carnival clubs were given entrance,
Of state, loud and clear rang lusty
cheers from thousands Of throats, the
deep. strong tones OF stalwart men alter
Mating with the shrill, piping, not unmusi-
cal treble OF boyish throats. After the
long procession had accorded their need
Of homage to the regent the various
commands were dishanded by their
respective leaders. The next afternoon
was devoted to display OF fine
horses and equipages in the streets.
As e,ch equipage drove by there was a
which, If formulated. would have taken
this shape: Can the next one be any finer?
First, thee would be a tandem team, driven
with great care; then family Sleigh q rich
barouche on runners, as though built for
the winter time alone, filled with handsome
ladies, furred and muffed and robed in the
rorest winter.time projections. Then
would pass cute little pair of Shetland
ponies decked with gay ribbons, and,
In one case. travelling beneath a
great pompon OF gorgeous-hued ostrich
his favorite colors, driving sin.
gle rig, with a fairfaced lady at his side:
then stately Russian sleigh, with silent,
sphinx-like driver and q dignified load OF
mellow matrons. Spinning along goes q
fast team carefully driven. but with a dis
position to show the sightsecr speedy
pace; and near at hand a Russian team,
three abreast, with jingling hoop Of bells
oyerarchins the center horse. And so the
procession moved on for hours.
The first grand storming OF tho ice palace
by the forces of the Fire King, the main
feature of the carnival season, occurred
last Thusrday evening.
Every thoroushfare leading toward Gen.
trail Park were brilliantly illuminated, and
buildings were gaily decorated with bunting
and banners by thousands. Along these
streets Il vast tide ofhumanity drifted with
resistlcss force toward the mighty towe
whose rose.tipped summit could just be
seen from the lower part Of the city. At
every street corner other thousands joined
the throng in the march toward the
,l,rff -
Tor many blocks around the palace
grounds were packed with eager spectators,
awaiting the beginning Of the fray. There
were inside the Enclosure at the park be-
tween 5000 and 80, 600 people, and fully
twice that number witnessed the battle
from the bluff, from neighboring windows
and from the streets.
The spectator could only gaze in won.
drous awe at the sublime picture spread
out before him. The great ice pile from
foundation to turret was radiant with q
crystal walls, diffusing a warm luminance
over everything. Over the main entrance
the two ice bears that stand as
guards over the statue OF Of King BoreaIis,
held aloft a crimson lamp, while high on
the tower the flag OF his majesty tloated
proudly on the wintry breeze. Up on
the bluff hundreds OF lights cleaned from
the windows OF the illuminated mansions,
and colored fire and torches were burning
everywhere.
The approach OF the Fire Kings forces
made a splendid showing. There were
thousands OF torches borne by the gaudily.
attired soldiers, who cheered Justify as
they charged up the hill. Following Capt.
Bean came the First regimental band,
followed by the First division of the
attacking force. The line numbered
over 1880 men. On the parapets, frozen
to the walls, bombcttes and fire fountains
had been placed, and on the outer walls
mounted bombs, shells and batteries OF
great force and power were in readiness
Tor the touch OF the match.
Twenty thousand Roman candles had
been distributed among the two armies.
So perfectly had all arrangements been
made, and so efficient was the drill OF the
companies that there was no confusion or
delay in disposing Of the forces in their
proper position. When all was ready the
signal was given, and mortar within
the castle discharged a bomb high in the
mir with tremendous force and with
loud explosion. In an instant the air was
filled with ten Thousand globes of fire all
sizes and colors. Bomb after bomb was
discharged, the explosions sounding
like the rattle OF musketry so
70 ,,id1v did %hov ooo,,. TLS H.,